SCOTLAND hope to finally break their World Cup duck tonight when they take on Afghanistan in Dunedin.

The Saltires are appearing in their third World Cup and have yet to rack up a victory having lost all 10 games so far. They suffered defeat to England on Sunday but take on the Afghans with confidence after hammering them by 150 runs in Abu Dhabi last month.

Scotland are 5-4 outsiders at William Hill to end their losing streak while Afghanistan are 4-7 favourites. For the most fours the Scots are priced up at 19-20 by 888sport and the Afghans 9-10, with the tie at 16-1.

There’s also high hopes of a Scottish victory on the tennis court today with Andy Murray taking on Joao Sousa at the Dubai Championships where the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych are all in second-round action.

There’s also a packed NBA card so post your sporting tips and chat here and good luck with your bets.

You know it’s not your night when you try to put £5 on someone in play and accidentally put £50 on instead. Won’t be seeing that money again anytime soon thanks to my idiocy and Hradecka’s incompetence!

Cleveland/Detroit over 194.5
OKC/Pacers over 193.5
Juventus to score
Norwich to score

@ 6/4 @ Skybet (50% stake) **WIN**

You could add the City goal at Skybet for a five fold just under 5/2 but too many people are putting doubts in my mind. Barca obviously have the firepower to win but they’re not steel walls in defence, they’re human beings who make mistakes and to rule out a City goal would be crazy with or without Toure.

5/2 **WIN**

Main bet loses but if you went with the other bets you should have made some wedge. 4 out of 5 on the thread can’t complain with that.

Ellis I agree with attila and sticking with my Ireland tips. Taking into consideration Irelands experience and the calm and composed way they chased 300+ against better opposition last week. You should have got more than evens in play though, should still be able to get 6/4 if you shop around

The main issue here is your a big cricket fan like me. And I think Attila comment about UAE having poor bowlers isn’t really proven. UAE are a newish nation to the World Cup stage and none of us really know what they are capable of.

They probably will lose this match but they will fancy there chances here if they bowl good line

I know Ellis but we shouldn’t get greedy! Thinking about Bautista-agut as an Even money single, he beat him in only other head to head, I see he beat Thiem comfortably and although Gasquet is a step up i think he is probably the more reliable player at the minute, Any thoughts guys? Did anyone see how Gasquets game vs Seppi went?

Well done to everyone who missed me post this, if only kev was in a bit earlier it could have landed. I didn’t tip it but backed Ireland at 4/5 and again at 5/1 in play, which would easily wipe out this loss and then some. Here’s hoping!

Yup was on 20 notes at 1.7, when it went 7/1 skybet thought in already and stuck tenner. Down to wire and good viewing, cricket is interesting now lol. Yeah last inning you can knock in points as restricted outer players. Cool

I can’t quite believe I’m backing JJ to WIN a match, but here goes! Kvitova was just terrible for patches in her matches in Dubai, and there’s sometimes value in going against her even when she’s playing well. JJ has been poor for a while now, but her first round 6-0, 6-2 rout of Zhang offers some encouragement. JJ lost to Zhang 6-3, 6-3 in he last match of last year, and this reversal could do her confidence the world of good. Throw into the mix the fact these courts seem to suit her game, and the fact she beat Kvitova here 6-1, 6-3 last year, and, potentially, there are enough ingredients for a tasty upset.

Obviously not a bet I’m EXPECTING to win, but I think it’s worth a go. Dimitrov closed out his first round match emphatically, 6-0 in the third, but Krajinovic tanked the last few games and Dimitrov had his struggles before that. The conditions were difficult, but the same is true for both players, and it took him 17 break points before he could break serve in the second set, only to get broken back straight away, and he wasted 4 match points as he served for the match in the second set from 40-0 up. He is the defending champion here, and he won’t let his title go without a fight, but Dimitrov’s level of play recently has not been great. He was below his best against Henri Mathieu and Giles Muller in Rotterdam and he is going to have to up his game if he wants to retain his title. Harrison is someone I’ve been impressed with lately, and while it will take an excellent performance to dump Dimitrov out, he has nothing to lose and should be confident of giving him a run for his money after his recent run of form.

Well the first leg of the Rolling Acca Mark II was voided last night. Harrison was 4-2 up in the final set when Young threw in the towel. Frustrating.

So, I’ll try again today, with the same starting stake of £10.

Mayer v Monaco over 22.5 games @ 10/11.

It was a coinflip between this and a treble on Azarenka/Anderson/Dolgopolov, but instead of actually tossing a coin I’ve gone with my gut this time. Monaco was superb in his first round match and I was planning on backing him big in the next round till I remembered it was Mayer he was playing. I didn’t see Mayer’s first round match but the stats are formidable. He was a beast behind his serve and I think this all-Argentine clash could entertain the home crowd for quite some time. I’m expecting three sets but I’ll settle for two tight ones.

Oriaz- you were on Harrison with a bookie that pays out if a set has been completed then? Good stuff. Wish i had been, but in the long run i don’t want to risk a rolling acca on a retirement as I might get burned the other way.

The second (first) leg is Mayer v Monaco over 22.5 games @ 10/11.
I’ve stuck with £10 stake as I’m not claiming the Harrison victory as a win as I stated I’d be using a bookie that voided retirements. Jankovic is a separate single tip, and a pretty ropey one at that!

Ad, yeah … Ladbrokes only voids the matchs if there’s a retirement during the 1st set. If the 1st set is complete then the player retiring is the loser. I know it’s a bit risky but I started the rolling bank there sooo 😀

Yes the balance is looking healthier than usual! I’ve always had a big interest in tennis betting but never followed any staking plans just went with my gut sometimes it was a small bet others a big bet but with no method to the madness, and while there were ups there were a lot more downs so hopefully if i can have a bit more patience it can be a nice little earner

I’m a strange tipper in the sense that I’ll take punts e.g I’ve backed Safarova at 11/10 but I’ll only tip things I’m 80% sure will make people money. Hence my 5/5 daily tennis tips. I’m here to make others money. Not lose them it.

Oriaz hopefully Afghanistan are more comfortable! It’s unfortunate you weren’t on here in play as a few of us managed to back Ireland in play at several stages between 4/5 to 5/1. Luckily I wasn’t busy so managed to still make profit from it

Jankovic was looking fairly good, it was a 50/50 back and forth match, but she appears to have pulled something. I fear the worst. After Pennetta limping out against Radwanska that’s the last thing I needed!

Finally retires. Good for me, but ive just realised Oriaz and others may be on with a bookie who doesn’t void after a sets been completed. Sorry if that’s the case, really unfortunate circumstances. She looked more than capable of winning that match till she got injured. 5/2 was looking like a bargain.

Dodgy2495, Scotland won the last time the teams played and the overall h2h record is 4-2 to Afghanistan. That game was in abu dhabi and in different conditions. However I’m not basing this tip on head to head, this is based purely on watching both teams in this competition and I feel afghanistan have shown more quality and mental strength so far. I also think their fast bowler shapoor zadran will cause Scotland problems and I’ll be tipping him in a minute.

If you’re not filled with confidence, another bet you could put on would be

Team to score most sixes – afghanistan

As they’re much bigger hitters than Scotland and it’s a small ground at dunedin which should suit their batting style.

Harry, I’m not a big cricket fan but obviously we’re giving Scotland decent coverage in the Record. From what I’ve read and listened to Afghanistan should win. Top Scots batsman has to be Coetzer or Machan.

Mr F to be fair I think there’s only 5 or 6 of us on here! I think Coetzer has to get in and steady the innings if you’ve any chance. They’ll pile on a lot of early pressure with Zadran like they did against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the difference with those teams is the middle order, Sri Lanka have world class talent all throughout and Bangladesh have arguably the best all rounder in ODI at the moment. The last meeting in abu dhabi, Scotland thrashed them, but I think Afghanistan will be more hungry for the win because of their rapid rise to ODI status over the last 6/7 years or so

Ellis- won’t argue with you there. It’s hard to call. Both must be tired, but Pliskova more so Id expect. But going with the odds against player in that matchup seems sound logic as its a knife edge kind of matchup. And she does keep winning matches when I think she’s going to lose.

I’m going against the train of momentum created on here by Navarro last week and I’m backing the in form Pliskova. I’m hoping her serve can cause the spaniard some issues and a bit of fatigue hits navarros game.

Not got much time as im en route to arsenal and this bet doesn’t need too much explaining, but Afghanistan played Sri Lanka on this ground and although they lost they scored 5 sixes to Sri Lankas 2. They lost 3-2 in sixes to Bangladesh but that was at canberra where the boundaries are bigger than at dunedin. Scotland managed 2 sixes in their game at this ground and 0-7 against England last time out. The shorter boundaries should suit Afghanistan’s style of play more and I can see them getting a few more than Scotland. Sorry for the rushed sloppy write up but I’ve only just realised the decent price, for some reason I though it was a lot shorter around 1/2.

Like the look of Becker at around 2/1 to beat Tomic. Tomic has won a few matches in the last couple of weeks without beating anyone of note. The same could be said for Becker but he has beaten Tomic in all three previous meetings.

You rotten lot have twisted my arm to throw a tenner at a Bonkers Bet. Obviously not a tip but some like these bets for £1.

Heat/Magic Over (188.5) TOTAL
Boston Celtics Over (98.5) TEAM
Wizards/Timberwolves Over (191.5) TOTAL
Philadelphia 76ers Over (82.5) TEAM
Hornets/Bulls Under (198.5) TOTAL
Houston Rockets (+6.5)
Suns/Nuggets Over (204.5) TOTAL
Memphis Grizzlies (+2.5)
Spurs/Trail Blazers Under (204.5) TOTAL

6-0 to Harrison final set….I should’ve tipped that! Around 200/1 ‘m guessing. That might’ve helped pick my spirits up after the embarrassment that was the Arsenal match. 6/1 i pretty goo but just ain’t gna do it!

That sounds good value to be honest. If I hadn’t used my points I’d be having a look for something in play. they should be trying to finish them off asap. thankfully they’ve not got a 6 yet so should only need one for Afghanistan.

And we’re a million miles away from winning the champions league! Tactics and nous nowhere to be seen

Another 4th quarter comeback downs the bet. Started 11 points ahead to lose. There’s 3 seconds left so I’m calling it a loss but they could tie it up with a 4 point play from this inbound. Highly unlikely.